Thread-cutting attachment for thimbles



No. 610,264. Patented Sept. 6, I898.

C. K. DOWNS. THREAD CUTTING ATTACHMENT FOR THIMBLES.

(Application filed Dec. 27, i397. (No Model.)

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THE NLIRRIS PETERS co. FHDTD-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. a c.

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CHARLES KEELER DOW'NS, OF SEYMOUR, IOWVA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,264, dated. September 6, 1898. Application filed December 27, 1897. Serial No. 663,587. (No modl.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES KEELER DOWNS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seymour, in the county of Wayne and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Thread-C uttin g Attachment for Thimbles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to thread-cu tting attachments for thimbles, its object being to so construct the sewing-thimble and attach the thread-cutter thereto that the thread-cutter will be guarded and prevented from injuring the work during the operation of sewing and the thread will be guided to the cutter and severed when it is crossed over the back of the thimble-finger and the latter is moved backward in a natural manner.

With this object in view the inventionconsists of the several details of construction and combination of parts, as will be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a thimble and thread-cutter made in accordance with my inventionand showing it on the finger of the operator in position to cut the thread. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the thimble and cutter. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the thimble with the thread-cutter removed. Fig. 5 is a plan viewof the blank from which the thread-cutting attachment is formed. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the thread-cutting attachment detached.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in the several figures.

1 designates a thimble having its wall at one side extended laterally to form a pocket 2, which tapers gradually from the open rear end of the thimble toward the front end of the same until it merges at its inner end in the finger-opening of the thimble.

3 indicates a plate of thin sheet-steel or any other metal that can be tempered and sharpened to a cutting edge, which tapers from end to end and has its ends rounded, as shown in'Fig. 5. Two horizontally-disposed parallel cuts 4 are made in the blank near its wide end, which lead from about midway the blank toward one edge, wherethey are connected by an inclined curved cut 5, and the metal included between these cuts is bent out at substantially a right angle to the plate, and when its upper edge is sharpened it-forms the thread-cutting blade 6. The plate 3 is then curved transversely to correspond to the curvature of the finger-opening in the thimble and is then fitted within the thimble so that the blade 6 projects into the upper end of the pocket 2 and extends across the same, with its cutting edge above the pocket, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. in the thimble either by soldering or brazing its edges to the thimble, or molten metal may be poured in the pocket around the lower edge of the blade, as indicated by 10 in Fig. 3, or both these methods may be employed.

l The wide end of the plate 6 will extend beyond the open end of the thimble and form a lip 3, which will be slightly curved inwardly at its outer end to cause its outer edge to closely engage the finger of the wearer. If a filling be used in the pocket 2, it will preferably be of the same kind of metal as that of which the thimble is made; but this is not essential.

The thread is indicated in Fig. 1 by the numeral 7, the needle by 8, and the work by 9. From the foregoing description it will be seen that the blade will be guided by the pocket and prevented from injuring the work while taking stitches, for the blade being only The plate will be secured exposed at the outer end of the pocket the gradual swell of the latter toward its outer end will prevent the blade from coming into contact with the work. When it is desired to cut the thread, the latter will be grasped by the thumb and forefinger of the operator and laid across the back of the thimble-finger, when a slight backward movement of the lat- .ter finger will bring the blade into contact with the thread and sever it, the lip 3 guiding the thread from the finger to the blade. It is also obvious that the wall of the fingeropening of the thimble will be smooth and of the usual contour, and the pocket, plate, and cutter will not therefore inconvenience the user of the thimble in any manner.

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim is I 1. The combination of a thimble provided at its open rear end With a laterally-extendin g pocket, and athread-cutter having ablade extending across the outer end of the pocket and having its cutting edge located above the pocket beyond the edge of the thimble, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a thimble, having a laterally-extending pocket at its rear open end, of a plate secured in said thimble to close the gap therein caused by the pocket, and a thread-cutter projecting from the plate into said pocket, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a thimble having a laterally-extending pocket at its rear open end, of a thread-cutter seated in said pocket, and a plate integral With the cutter secured Within the thimble, said plate forming a lip extending beyond the open end of the thimble, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4:. The combination with a thimble having a laterally-extending pocket at its rear open end, said pocket tapering toward the front end of the thimble, a thread-cutting blade seated in said pocket, a plate integral With the blade secured within the thimble, and a filling in the pocket, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a thimble having a laterally-extending pocket at its rear open end, a thread-cutting blade seated in said pocket and projecting beyond its openend, a plate integral With the blade secured Within the thimble to close the gap therein caused by the pocket, and also forming a lip extending beyond the rear open end of the thimble, the outer end of said lip being curved inwardly, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHAS. KEELER DOVNS. 

